Chapter 5 - Casino of Lies
The French Riviera sparkled under the night sky like a necklace of spilled diamonds. The harbor of Monte Carlo was crowded with mega-yachts, but none was more imposing than *The Leviathan*—a 300-foot black superyacht owned by Baron Ronald Vance.
Aboard the vessel, an exclusive masquerade ball was in full swing. High-society elites, corrupt politicians, and shadowy arms dealers mingled under crystal chandeliers, wearing intricate golden masks and sipping vintage champagne while classical violin music played softly in the background.
Through the crowd walked Liam Carter, wearing a dark tuxedo and a sleek black Venetian mask. Beneath his lapel, a micro-transceiver kept him in constant communication with his father, who was positioned on a high-rise balcony overlooking the harbor with a high-powered tactical scope.
"I'm inside the main ballroom, Dad," Liam whispered into his hidden microphone, keeping his eyes moving across the wealthy guests. "Security is tight. At least twenty armed guards disguised as waiters."
"Copy that, Liam," Marcus’s voice crackled softly in his earpiece. "I have a visual on the yacht's lower deck. Evelyn Vance is in the VIP lounge on the second level. She has the vault briefcase tethered to her wrist. You need to get that key before Vance begins the live auction for the Aegis network."
"Understood. Moving toward the staircase," Liam replied.
As Liam navigated through the crowd, a high-ranking European diplomat brushed past him, laughing loudly. Liam remained focused, stepping smoothly up the grand marble staircase leading to the private lounge area.
He reached the doorway of the VIP room. Two massive security guards stood outside, wearing matching suits and ear pieces.
Liam took a deep breath, adjusting his cuffs. "Dad, I have two heavy guards at the entrance. I need a distraction."
"Distraction coming in three, two, one..." Marcus replied.
Suddenly, the power across the entire harbor flickered violently. A localized electromagnetic pulse triggered by Marcus’s team disrupted the yacht’s main generator, causing the crystal chandeliers to black out completely for five seconds. Panic erupted in the main ballroom below as guests shouted in confusion.
The two guards outside the VIP lounge immediately drew their concealed sidearms and turned toward the stairs.
Liam didn't waste a second. Taking advantage of the sudden darkness, he moved with lighting speed. He grabbed the wrist of the first guard, twisting it violently to disarm him, and delivered a swift elbow blow to the man's temple. Before the second guard could react, Liam swept his legs, slamming him onto the carpeted floor and knocking him unconscious with a precise blow to the jaw.
"Guards neutralized," Liam reported, his breath coming fast as the yacht’s emergency red lights flickered on. "Entering the lounge."
Liam pushed open the heavy oak door. Inside, Evelyn Vance was frantically trying to input a security code into a steel briefcase sitting on a glass table. When she saw Liam enter, her eyes widened in shock.
"Liam!" she gasped, dropping her cipher device. "How did you get up here?"
"It's over, Evelyn," Liam said, stepping into the room and closing the door behind him. "Give me the Aegis key."
Evelyn backed away slowly toward the balcony doors, her mask slipping slightly. "You don't understand, Liam! My uncle... he forced me! He threatened to ruin me if I didn't steal the encryption files from your father's vault!"
"Save it," Liam said bitterly. "My father trusted you for ten years. He treated you like family. And you sold us out to a monster."
Evelyn’s tearful expression suddenly transformed into a cold, cruel sneer. "Family? Your father was a fool who thought he could change the world with clean energy. My uncle offered me real power."
She reached into her evening dress and pulled out a small, lethal ceramic pistol, aiming it straight at Liam’s chest.
"Hand over your comms device, kid," Evelyn commanded coldly. "Or I put a hole in your heart right now."
Liam raised his hands slowly, playing along. "You won't shoot, Evelyn. The sound will bring every guest running up here."
"This gun is suppressed and ceramic, Liam," she smirked, thumbing the safety off. "Nobody will hear a thing."
"Maybe not," a deep voice boomed from the balcony doors behind her. "But I will."
Before Evelyn could turn around, the heavy glass balcony doors shattered inward as Marcus Carter kicked them open, bursting into the room like a storm. He seized Evelyn’s arm, twisting the weapon out of her hand in a single fluid movement, and pinned her against the wall.
"Marcus!" she choked out, her face pale with terror.
"You broke my heart, Evelyn," Marcus said softly, his voice devoid of emotion. "I considered you a daughter."
Marcus snatched the encrypted briefcase off the glass table, then pulled a pair of heavy flex-cuffs from his tactical vest, securing Evelyn to the iron railing of the balcony.
"Liam, grab the briefcase. We have the Aegis key," Marcus ordered, turning toward the door. "We need to move to the extraction point now!"
"Not so fast, Mr. Carter," a voice announced from the hallway.
The VIP room door swung open completely. Standing in the corridor was Baron Ronald Vance, surrounded by six heavily armed mercenaries carrying automatic rifles.
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Vance smiled smoothly, adjusting his silk bowtie. "Did you really think a power flicker would outsmart me, Marcus? Welcome aboard *The Leviathan*. I do hope you've enjoyed the party... because you're never leaving it alive."
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